Charo's Tree - Vernal Trees for Charity Gala

Charo's Tree

Sherrie Christensen, one of the August expeditioners to Kenya, has made and is donating a tree to the Trees for Charity dinner and auction to be held next Monday, November 29, 2010 in Vernal, Utah.  Following are the details:

Trees for Charity

Gala Dinner and Auction

Monday, November 29, 2010

Doors open for tree viewing at 5:00 p.m.

Dinner begins at 6:00 p.m.

Auction 7:00 p.m.

Cost: $20 per person

Western Park

302 East 200 South

Vernal, Utah

Tickets can be purchased at the door that evening or from the Vernal Chamber of Commerce prior to that night. 

Please take the time to view my tree this year.  It is number 5, and it features handmade beaded heart ornaments from middle school children from both Kenya and Vernal.  You won't be able to miss this colorful tree!  The garland is made from konga cloth material which the Kenyan women use for their skirts.  This garland makes a path from village to village on the tree with handmade huts and banana tree leaf people depicting everyday life in Kenya.

The charity which I have chosen to donate the proceeds of the sale of this tree is Koins for Kenya.  This charity is a Utah based 501(c)3 humanitarian organization which donates 100% of all donations directly to remote villages in Kenya.  This is the organization I traveled to Kenya with last summer.  While we were there, we learned of the death of a twelve year old boy named Charo who lived in the village of Gona.  The day after he died, we visited his school mates to hand out pencils, and in a ceremony, the local chief proudly handed over an envelope containing ten percent of the cost of building a school building, which is required by the Koins organization before work can begin on a new school project.  I fell in love with the people of Charo's village.  The parents understand that the future of their children depends on their receiving a good education because without education, they have no opportunities and the cycle of poverty will continue.

The cost of building a two room school building in Charo's name is $10,000.  If you would like to contribute a specified amount to this charity without actually having to purchase the tree, please contact the Vernal Chamber of Comerce at (435) 789-1352 and tell them you would like to add a "Tree Topper" to this charity.   All donations are tax deductible.